I think it's great that Japanese players are coming to America but they need to go into the draft. It is not right that only the big money teams have a chance to sign them. If they are considered rookies then they should go through a draft. MLB can't have it both way.

That would have to apply to all foreign talent, not just Japan. How about the two players that just defected? All of them, or none of them.

If they couldn't be free agents though, they might not come over. A lot of them are doing it for the money.

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Madison wrote:That would have to apply to all foreign talent, not just Japan. How about the two players that just defected? All of them, or none of them.

If they couldn't be free agents though, they might not come over. A lot of them are doing it for the money.

Of course!! It should apply to all Cuban players as well. Any foreign player that wanted to play in the major leagues SHOULD go through the draft. The NBA has it's foreign players go throught he draft and it works fine for them. The Japanese and Cuban baseball players shouldn't just go to the richest teams. It's not fair to American high school and college players that have to go through the draft. The point of the draft is to allow the lesser teams access to the best talent.

If any foreign player doesn't want to come to MLB because if they can't come as free agents then the greedy bastards should stay home. Besides they will get paid what they are worth even if they go through the draft but they must earn it first. Can we all say Ariel Prieto?

Although the finacial constraints of this make it implausible to happen anytime soon.....I really would like to see a different system in use than what is given now....

well they could expand it to include minor league affiliates around the world. Each team could have one in Europe, one in Asia and Japan, maybe one is Australia, and def. one in South America. each team would have 4 extra ... "Minor League Agreements" Basically once drafted they could develop within there own countries and probably within existing organizations. This would greatly help offset the cost. Not to mention greatly help expand our sport.

wrveres wrote:well they could expand it to include minor league affiliates around the world. Each team could have one in Europe, one in Asia and Japan, maybe one is Australia, and def. one in South America. each team would have 4 extra ... "Minor League Agreements" Basically once drafted they could develop within there own countries and probably within existing organizations. This would greatly help offset the cost. Not to mention greatly help expand our sport.

Although, on the surface this looks like a good plan.....(and of the ones that I have heard, probably what I would favor the most)......but, the off set cost of having affiliates in other countries....would be mitigated by the expense increases in player development (trainers, coaches, etc)....additonal scouts.... player revenue increases.....management of the affiliate clubs (on a corporate level)....and stadium renovations (which always goes in with anything MLB does... )....

Not to mention the "watering down of the player pool".....by further separating the best players in the world.....

[b]Useless Trivia of the day[/b]

England's Worcester Canoe Club set the world record for paddling a hand-propelled bathtub. The 25 man team covered a distance of 55 miles, 425 yards in 24 hours on September 28 and 29, 1979.

wrveres wrote:well they could expand it to include minor league affiliates around the world. Each team could have one in Europe, one in Asia and Japan, maybe one is Australia, and def. one in South America. each team would have 4 extra ... "Minor League Agreements" Basically once drafted they could develop within there own countries and probably within existing organizations. This would greatly help offset the cost. Not to mention greatly help expand our sport.

Although, on the surface this looks like a good plan.....(and of the ones that I have heard, probably what I would favor the most)......but, the off set cost of having affiliates in other countries....would be mitigated by the expense increases in player development (trainers, coaches, etc)....additonal scouts.... player revenue increases.....management of the affiliate clubs (on a corporate level)....and stadium renovations (which always goes in with anything MLB does... )....

Not to mention the "watering down of the player pool".....by further separating the best players in the world.....

Agreed, Maybe the MLB could work out a gate revenue deal with the other organizations to help offse the costs, in time it could actually be a source of revenue. I think minor league MLB would just explode in South America, especially if the talent was homegrown and they had they "Chance" to play in the show..

Huge amount of revenue... Huge... Hopefully the next Commish will see this market.